Lucky 7s For Wsvef: New Leader, Fresh Faces, And Great Numbers

If “7” is indeed a lucky number, this is shaping up to be a very fortuitous time for the White Salmon Valley Education Foundation (WSVEF).

The school-supporting organization is wrapping up its 7th year of business, with nearly seven dozen grants to local schools totaling some $750,000, and an endowment fund that just broke the $700,000 mark.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with how the foundation has helped to strengthen our public schools over the past seven years,” said new Board President Jason Spadaro. “It just goes to show how much our community can accomplish when we unite behind an objective. Our goal over the next year is to expand the amount of community awareness and involvement in the foundation objectives and continue to be a catalyst for community pride and participation in our schools.”

WSVEF Board Members elected Spadaro to the presidential post at their April Board Meeting. Spadaro has been on the board since the organization’s inception in 2006, and has worked unstintingly to help broaden support for the WSVEF and the educational goals of the school district.

“With the ongoing State budget and funding challenges for public schools, the work of the foundation becomes more important than ever. I’m honored to be able to fulfill this role at this point in time,” said Spadaro.

Spadaro is the president of SDS Lumber Company. His wife, Shelly, is a kindergarten educator at Dallesport Elementary and together they have two children who currently attend, and one who graduated from, White Salmon Schools.

He replaces out-going board president Sue Davis, who has been with the WSVEF since pre-inception in the fall of 2005. Davis successfully wrote the application for non-profit status of the organization, and set the current path for organizational sustainability.

Prior to her three-year presidential tenure, she served as vice-president, as well as founding secretary, of the organization. Davis now becomes “past-president,” and says she will work to ensure a smooth transition, and continue to advise in fundraising matters.

The WSVEF also welcomed new Board Member Anne Stringer at the April meeting. She is the mother of a kindergartner at Whitson Elementary.

“I have a strong belief in the power of education, and loved the education experience,” said Stringer. “Through the WSVEF I hope to further contribute and engage with the community.”

Stringer brings with her substantial database skills, and will help to update the group’s donor management system.

The WSVEF is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation dedicated to enhancing the quality of public education within our community by creating a stable source of supplemental funding for curriculum enhancement and investment in our teachers.

For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.wsvef.org or call 493-1175.